Conference

Phyllis Donatto is the founder and CEO of FTH Dimension Solutions, LLC, an executive leadership coaching and consulting firm specializing in empowerment solutions for team and personal growth. Her life’s work is to equip and empower leaders to lead by building cohesive teams while cultivating a thriving culture that impacts and inspires others to be their best selves. 

A first-generation college graduate, Donatto holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Reading and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in Administration and Supervision from the University of Louisiana, Monroe. She also holds a Master’s in Theological Studies from the Houston Graduate School of Theology in Houston, Texas, and certification in Executive Leadership Coaching from Paradigm 360 Coaching, an accredited coaching program, in Charlotte, NC.

Donatto believes that relationships matter, and how we treat one another directly influences and impacts a person’s value, self-worth and ability to thrive. She also believes that strong relationships among adult teams can positively impact student achievement.

FTH Dimension Solutions emphasizes designing a learning culture that links individuals through their shared and different experiences. Assisting teams to become more self-aware of their behaviors and how these behaviors impact others – while learning to recognize, celebrate and connect with others – is the bridge that leads to safe, positive and empowered teams.

Donatto’s approach is simple: She provides the necessary strategies and tools to connect students and adults by facilitating experiences that promote effective problem-solving techniques and improve personal and professional interactions. Donatto lives to encourage and support others as they seek to become the best version of themselves in service, first to themselves and then to others. She has been referred to by many as a “Hope-ologist.” Donatto is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is married to her “gift,” Damond Paul Donatto, and they have one son, Ronald.

Marck Abraham is the founder and CEO of MEA Consultants, LLC, a fast-growing consultancy he designed to help poorly performing schools and organizations increase achievement for all students, especially young men of color.

As a thought leader for men of color, author and motivational speaker, Abraham has presented to various education audiences and school districts in New York and across the country. His most recent book, What Success Looks Like: Increasing High School Graduation Rates Among Males of Color, provides school leaders with practical steps to increase student performance for one of the country’s most marginalized student groups. Abraham has also published several articles in the National Association of Secondary School Principals magazine.

Abraham’s strategies for increasing graduation rates for males of color have been featured in SREB’s Promising Practices Newsletter, the Buffalo News and on local radio. He was also recognized by the mayor of Buffalo, New York, as one of the top principals in the city of Buffalo. McKinley High School, where he was principal, was cited by the New York State Education Department for having one of the highest graduation rates for males of color in New York at 93%. Abraham and his consulting company work with school leaders nationwide to implement strategies that prevent school failure.

Abraham completed his doctorate at St. John Fisher College.